Pyambuugiin Tuul

Pyambuugiin Tuul ( _mn. Пямбуугийн Туул) is a retired long-distance runner from Mongolia, who represented his native country in the men's marathon at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. As the sole member of the Mongolian track and field team, he was the first ever Mongolian entered in the marathon.

Tuul was a construction worker when he lost his sight during an explosion, in his home town of Ulan Bator, in 1978. After two unsuccessful operations he gave up hope of ever seeing again. Then the New York Achilles Track Club, which promotes athletics for the disabled, invited him to participate in the 1990 New York City Marathon. Led by a guide, Tuul walked much of the way and finished the course in just over five hours.

The club also arranged for a cornea transplant for him, and surgery was performed in New York in January 1991. For the first time, he saw the faces of his six- and eight-year-old daughters. [ [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1004100/2/index.htm "Scorecard: At The Olympics"] , CNN, August 17, 1992] Tuul was the last runner to finish the Olympic marathon in Barcelona, in four hours and 44 seconds, but 25 of the 112 marathoners had already dropped out of the race. He didn't finish to the roar of the crowd. He finished away from the stadium, in obscurity and quiet, while the crowd cheered at the closing ceremonies. [ [http://www.humanite.fr/1992-08-11_Articles_-LE-DERNIER-COUREUR "Le dernier coureur"] , "L'Humanité", August 11, 1992] [ [http://www.rediff.com/sports/2004/aug/27oly-ath9.htm "The true spirit of the Games"] , Reuters, August 27, 2004]

ee also

* Luvsanlkhündegiin Otgonbayar, Mongolian competitor who finished last in the Olympic marathon in 2004

References